There are Chabad Houses that seem to churn out moving stories that sound like they were taken from stories of the holy Baal Shem Tov recounted on motzoei Shabbos. The following story comes to us from far away, from the Chabad House for Hebrew-speakers in Melbourne, led by the shliach, Rabbi Dudu Lider.
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Rabbi Sholom Dovber HaKohen Gutnick a”h, a senior Chabad rabbi, Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshivas Chabad in Melbourne. He was 94. * He was a linchpin in the “Australian Revolution.” He strengthened Judaism in Australia where he had gone to live as a bachur with the blessing of the Rebbe Rayatz.
About the shlichus of Rabbi Dovid (Dudu) Lider, director of the Chabad House for Israeli tourists in Melbourne. He tells about the shluchim in the early years who were guided closely by the Rebbe. He himself went on shlichus in 5764. * Within a short time he was able to double and then triple their activities and now he is about to complete a new, three story building. * The story of a shliach with incredible stories to share, whose shlichus exemplifies “chai v’kayam”
Along with having to contend with forces from the “outside” and money matters, R’ Zalman had to deal with criticism from within, from Anash who thought he was rushing to open new mosdos before getting the previous mosdos on solid footing
In Australia the school year begins in February, so right after Tishrei 5717 R’ Zalman began preparing for the new school year, and also began thinking ahead about a suitable building for Beis Rivka two years down the road.
October 15, 2019